Artificial Intelligence Adoption and the Need for Artificial Intelligence Literacy in Veterinary Education: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming veterinary education and practice, increasing the need for AI literacy among future veterinary professionals. However, evidence regarding veterinary students’ knowledge, use, and perceptions of AI remains limited. This cross-sectional study evaluated AI awareness, usage patterns, attitudes, and educational expectations among undergraduate veterinary students at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain). A semi-structured online questionnaire was completed by 189 students (43% of the target population), and data were analysed using descriptive statistics and tests of association, with Monte Carlo procedures when appropriate and false discovery rate adjustment for multiple comparisons. Most students reported frequent use of generative AI tools, particularly ChatGPT, mainly for information retrieval and academic support. Participants generally perceived AI as a valuable educational resource but expressed concerns regarding the reliability of AI-generated information, ethical issues, data privacy, and the potential impact on critical thinking. Despite widespread AI use, most respondents reported limited formal training and insufficient institutional guidance, while strongly supporting the integration of AI-related competencies into the veterinary curriculum. These findings highlight a gap between the rapid adoption of AI and the development of formal AI literacy in veterinary education. Veterinary curricula should promote not only technical proficiency but also critical evaluation, ethical awareness, and the responsible use of AI in professional practice.